a tickle of words to create smiles

Posts tagged ‘Think’

Think Globally, Act Locally

AKO-GlobalLocalOne of the most wasteful times of the year occurs in December. Why do I say that? Simple. Increased local traffic to stores. More consumerism. PACKAGING and WRAPPING! There is more baking, cooking, visiting, etc.

Let us consider clever ways to reduce the amount of waste we generate. One of the most simple things we can consider is how we wrap our gifts to each other. One of my favorite things to do is use simple canvas bags as gift bags set with a colorful and festive fabric bow, both of which can be reused. Look  about your home and see what you can creatively use to wrap your gifts this year. Maybe you have some fabric you can use. How about using newspaper and collage it with colorful magazine pictures?

Maybe you can forgo material gifts. Perhaps you can give a gift of love and time instead by visiting and engaging in heartfelt conversations where your attention is undivided (yes, turn off that electronic device for an hour or so). Here is another wonderful possibility…share a skill with others by teaching them how to do something you are good at doing, such as: gardening, baking, crocheting, wood-working, scrap-booking, bird-watching, fishing, paper-crafting and so on and so forth.

Other ideas: Dovetail errands so you are using less gasoline; create more gifts instead of buying them from materials you already have at home; send e-cards via e-mail instead of sending paper cards through the mail; have a holiday gathering around a charity event or while being of service to the poor and the needy; etc.

What are some other things we could do to cut waste during this holiday season? The list is endless and the possibilities countless if you just put for five to ten minutes of thought into it. I came up with quite a few in the ten minutes I spent writing this article. Most of all, have fun with the ideas. The holidays of December are meant to be experienced with love, joy and reverence. Don’t stress. Merry Christmas! (Ten days away and counting down.)

 

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Use Words for Encouragement

Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Ephesians 4:29 NLT

Kind words that are spoken to others are not only good and helpful, but these words also lift the spirits of both the recipient and the speaker of those words. It is a double blessing as well as being an act of love and compassion.  In order to let everything we say be good and helpful, we are given the opportunity to take pause to reflect and think before we speak. We get to take time with others. We are afforded the chance to be deliberately mindful and kind. Then in turn, our words will be encouraging and may be even inspiring to those who hear them. Now, that is a beautiful gift.

One of my favorite quotes that reinforces today’s message that I never grow tired of hearing and expressing is from Mother Teresa: Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their
echoes are truly endless.

Also, making the rounds on the internet is the “Before You Speak…THINK” campaign. The campaign’s anagram uses THINK, which conveys the above bible quote beautifully: “Before you speak, THINK: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind?” I used these words to create the above image to go with today’s message. Feel free to share it as long as you keep my website information on it. May this inspire you over the holidays as we mingle with friends and family whom we have not seen in a while (for one reason or another). Be the change you wish to see in the world and in them. THINK. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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